Social Nudism - children & young people

This question looms large in the minds of nudists as some political and religious groups strive
to ban social nudism, and even to classify artwork and photographs portraying mere nudity as
"pornography."

Many popular child-rearing "experts" are quick to blame any number of childhood ills on
a child's early exposure to nudity. Can this really be the case? One source of confusion is an inevitable
discomfort of many people - parents and educators included - in respect to anything that smacks
of childhood sexuality.

The researching of children's sexuality resembles a drive through the desert: long stretches of
'nothing,' interspersed with brief viewings of activity of some interest.

Alayne Yates (1979) has cited the sparse and confusing history of scholarly study of the general topic
of children's sexuality, and specifically the paucity of concise reference materials for parents and
educators.

In the United States, research of this nature has historically been seen as unnecessary (the mildest
reaction), intrusive (a common belief among educators is that children's sexuality is the purview of the
parents alone), or evil (especially among individuals and groups subscribing to certain religious codes
and dogma).

The impediments to research present a special problem for families and groups that do not share the
prevalent views regarding sexuality in general, and nudity/modesty in particular.

Smith and Sparks (1986) cite numerous examples of families who are nudists but who routinely hide that
aspect of their lives for fear that others will find out and disapprove. They fear disapproval because
they do not have any base of scholarly research to support their beliefs that the body is a normal and
healthy entity, and that non-sexual nudity is not harmful for children (and in fact is beneficial).

Fortunately for nudist families, several researchers have taken an interest in the subject of nudity
and children's development. Unfortunately, few others have chosen to replicate their research, possibly
due to the reasons outlined by Yates.

Children's exposure to nudity is not only not harmful, it appears to be beneficial.
Children who are raised as nudists (or in nude-friendly families) grow up to be adults who are comfortable
with their bodies and their sexuality.

The results of the research presented would seem to speak clearly and with force. However, this
seemingly clear relationship is not at all clear to most parents, nudist or non-nudist.

Yates (1978) theorises that most parents are unaware of these studies or the patterns they reflect for
two reasons.

First, nudists are still widely (and erroneously) perceived in our society as sexual deviants. Those
who are not nudists generally have no direct personal experiences to disprove the fallacy; many nudists
are afraid to reveal their status for fear of being ridiculed, prosecuted or persecuted.

Second, research into human sexuality provided amazing advances in our knowledge of adult sexuality
in the last one hundred years and this was seen as appropriate, as adults are clearly sexual beings.

Parallel research with regard to children has advanced much more slowly, as researchers are loath to
study this topic.

What little research has been done has generally not been replicated. The neglect of replication has
led to a general absence of credence among those who rely on the literature for their professional
opinions - and these people are the ones who directly advise parents.

Thus, we are left with the advice of Dr. Spock, who warned us of dire consequences resulting from
children's exposure to nudity but who performed no research of his own - apparently his conclusions
were based on one anecdotal incident involving his own son.

Dr. Joyce Brothers, who warns parents of "terrible guilts and frustrations" that children
suffer from being exposed to normal nudity, also performed no research of her own and apparently based
her conclusions on her work with emotionally disturbed children (Smith and Sparks, 1986).

We see from Smith and Sparks that some widely published "experts" are not experts at all,
but rather individuals with personal opinions who also happen to be widely read by parents who trust
that those opinions are based on formal research.

Nudist Youth and Children

Some non-nudists have contended that experiencing nudism as children would lessen sexual interest as
adults; we, however, are more inclined to view it as a shift in area of importance, from sex per se
to that of total relationship. (p 146)

One mother said she had been a nudist as a child and that she and her husband had recently joined. She
felt that nudism had been a great benefit to her in terms of her own sexual learning and ability to
accept the same and opposite sex without curiosity. She felt it was important that her children have
the same opportunity. Further, she and her brother were never involved in the sex games of the other
neighbourhood children, and in dating there was neither curiosity nor fear of boys. (p 147)

Many parents point out that their children exhibited no shame or curiosity about their bodies. As a
thirty-six-year-old mother says, "My daughter is two years old and is the only child on our block
who is not 'ashamed' or curious about another's body. Hers is wholesome attitude toward her own body
and others. (p 147)

A twenty-nine-year-old nudist mother who is a teacher states, "I feel like I am on vacation
the minute I get to the ranch. My children boy twelve, girl three) are much happier and better
behaved." One thirty-seven-year-old mother reported that the family all approved of the medical
benefits her son had derived from nudism. Parents frequently mention this aspect of going to camp.
(p 151)

"When we visited a public beach in the United States for the first time, we were very amazed because
it was forbidden to change children's clothes on the beach. Even small babies had to run around in small
bathing suits. Because of this our three year old caught a severe case of bronchitis and in spite of a
doctor's care had a hard time getting rid of it. One year of nudism brought a complete cure. We all got
rid of annoying colds that come from climatic changes. Also, we learned to know wonderful people and felt
accepted into a large family. If one says that nudists corrupted our boys and girls I can only say:
'I have never seen boys and girls of all ages get along so well together than in a nudist camp. Here no
teenagers lie under one blanket and kiss each other as this can be observed on a public beach.' We only
hope that more people in America will accept our point of view and that one day public beaches will be
provided for us as in Europe." (p 151)

Eric Berne points out that ... how parents feel about nudity is passed on to their children by their own
behaviour regarding it. If they feel "naked and ashamed," this is relayed to their children
either by verbal or non verbal means. This is true whether they are nudists or not and is a key factor in
the child's perception and reaction to the situation. (p 154)

On the other hand, in regard to nudity, it has been pointed out that a great deal of harm can be done a
child by the suppression of curiosity, and while parents are unaccustomed to group situations involving
unclothed adults, nudity of their children is an accepted phenomena. (p 156)

There is a vast difference between the frankness and truthfulness operating in a familial setting in
opposition to the over-stimulation of the mass media, which is concerned with the commercial gain, as
Leon Eisenberg points out. (p 156)

Since nudist children appear well adjusted, nudism can't be a major factor in childhood trauma.
(p 157)

In most areas of our interaction we can weigh fantasy with reality, but if the child has no exposure
to the nude human, the fantasy - reality scale can take on gigantic proportions especially in
reaction to peer group talk and the general misinformation bandied about.
(p 158)

"Fanatical modesty and a phobia about being seen naked, apart from hampering medical care, may
severely limit or even destroy sexual functions in adulthood. Some people cannot have intercourse unless
clad. More extremely, there are some whose pathological modesty prevents sexual arousal in the presence
of a partner." (p 159)

Margaret Mead has made significant observations about the effects of nudity on children in both
South Sea Island and American cultures. Briefly they are summarised as follows:

1) Clothing is an alienating factor in our body image and separates us from our body.
The dichotomy of the self apart from the body develops in childhood.

2) Nudity in clothed Western culture involving children and adults may provide a traumatic distortion
for the child because of lack of comparative elements. In an unclothed society all ranges of humanity
of varying sizes, shapes and descriptions are to be found and compared. It is significant that
comparison of all anatomy be made. This involves breasts and penises in our society in particular.

3) In many societies sex roles develop in early childhood through physical contact between parents
and children. Mead feels that such paraphernalia as bottles, cribs and clothes create barriers between
the bodies of parents and children and mute a significant communication process and learning experience.

4) Muted childhood sexuality is followed by puberty and the dating game of finding a mate. In this
game the emphasis is on sex emphasised through clothing. Preoccupation with sex per se, rather
than personality, results.

5) Because of absence of nudity in our culture, the child looses an important link in learning since
he cannot observe the growth process of nude bodies at various maturational stages that his body will go
through.

6) Nudity or partial nudity by no means indicates a lack of modesty among primitive people.

7) Nudity per se is not the panacea for all learning. How it is handled and what it means to
the child is important. Some primitive people where nudity exists still traumatise their children through
various fears and actions. (p 161)

The child needs to be aware of himself as a developing person and see nudity in adults to make him aware
of what he is to become. (p 163)

A prominent Midwest doctor, writer, and counsellor dealing extensively with young people attended camp
with us, and, as usual, we asked his reaction to the youth. His impression was that the children were very
cooperative with each other, with no conflict situations developing in the course of the observations. He
seemed to think this quite interesting because there seemed to be no concept of "mine" as found
generally in the larger culture, where children seem to be very egocentric in their behaviour. There
seemed to be a greater willingness to share. (p 163)

A well-known female family counsellor took the occasion after leading a weekend conference to visit a
nudist park with us to satisfy her own curiosity about the effects of nudism on families and children.
She was impressed with the children at play. She observed that there was no appearance of any sense of
shame or embarrassment in the boy-girl relationships, and she felt it was a positive wholesome environment.
Her observations and reactions to the situation were similar to ours. (p 164)

Fleischhauer-Hardt, H. (photography by Will McBride) (1975). Show Me! A picture book
of sex for children and parents. New York: St. Martin's Press. [A controversial and hard to find
book; explicit photos and captions taken from the people being photographed. Intended for children &
parents]

Gordinier, J. (1987). Does Ann Landers have it right when she tells readers that parental
nudity is seduction? Raleigh [NC] News & Observer. July 1 [Parental/family nudity; family
and societal attitudes]

Quindlen, A. (photography by Nick Kelsh) (1996). Naked Babies. New
York: Penguin Books. [Photo book: naked babies! Intended as a picture-/gift-book for expecting or new
parents, but also a book to share with children]

Rubin, I & Kirkendall, LA. (1970). Sex in the childhood Years. New York:
Association Press. [Intended for parents, teachers, and care-givers]

Schatz, H. (1996). Newborn. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. [Photo book: naked newborn
babies. Intended as a picturebook/giftbook for expecting or new parents, but also a good book to share
with children]

Schloss, M. (1989). Growing Up. Clothed With the Sun 8(4), 36. [Review of the book
"Growing Up" by James Docherty; listed in this index]